Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-06-08
LAUDANUM THIS TIME.
e. c. Mumford, or Major Murray, and His
Suicide at San Francisco

Suicide at San Francisco.
A dispatch in yesterdays RECORD UNION
stated that Victor Monet, who registered at
the Brooklyn Hotel, San Francisco, last
Saturday night as an arrival from Chicago,
and committed suicide on Sunday with
laudanum, was the same person as E. C.
Mumford, the printer, who attempted sui
eide with a pistol in Capitol Park week
ago Saturday evening. The Call of yester-
dag says concerning the matter:
" The dead man was we'll dressed, and
did not look like one in want Five cents,
however, was all the money found on him.
Those people who frequented the Lick
House some four months ago will remem-
Der the features of man styling himself
Major Murray. He always dressed in style;
was generous man, spending money
freely. He stated that he had arrived
from Chicago. and was out on the coast for
recreation. He also stated that he had
been an army officer of standing. and as
he was well posted on military affairs it is
presumed that such was the case. He was
man OF education, and a fine French
speaker. In company with new-made
friends he frequently drove to the park, the
Cliff and other places near the city. All the
Safe Deposit vault he had money stored in
tin box, and on his person he displayed
considerable iewelry. Some six weeks ago
Murray disappeared rather suddenly, but
III the course of a weeks time he reap
peared, he having made the Yosemite and
back. His open manner had changed to
one OF seclusion and moroseness. Three
days after he had returned from the Yo-
semitic he again disappeared. Several days
had passed, and his friends becoming
alarmed, employed the Lawson Detective
Agency to look him up. Learning that a
man answering Murray.S description had
made an attempt to commit suicide in Sac
ramento, a detective was sent tothat place
on Tuesday last. From the RECORD UNION
of a week ago Monday the following infor-
nation wos received by the detective.
The account of Mumford's attempt at self
destruction in the park.
" The detective found Mumford at the
International Hotel in Sacramento, and he
was Identified as being Murray. A strong
endeavor was made 10 persuade Murray to
come TO this city, but he cbstinately re-
fused TO do so, stating that be would come
to this city on Thursday or Friday The
detective returned on Wednesday morning,
and one of the principals of the agency
(Lawson) proceeded to Sacramento the
same day. Murray had taken the steamer
iioil CdCIdiutiItO Ut ~ A. M, anu us SOOn as
Lawson had heard Of the fact he tele-
graphed to Murray's friends in this city,
but the telegram failed to reach its destina-
ton in time, and Murray managed to evade
the vigilance of those who were seeking
him here. Detective league of the agency
and an assistant commenced a search for
Murray, and they found where he had en-
deavored to procure bed al the Central
Pacific Lodging house, on Market street
From that place the detectives traced him
TO the st. George clearinghouse, on Kear-
ny street He remained over night there
The hotels were visited Saturday and Sun
day, and the name of Moret al the Brook
Ign was noticed, but the handwriting being
so different from that of Murray but little
attention was paid To it. Yesterday after
noon one Of the detectives called at the
Morgue and identified the remains as those
of Murray"
Mumford as deceased was known in
Sacramento, was furnished employment on
the Star, of this city, through the interposi-
ton of City Attorney Hart, after being re-
leased from the station-house on Monday
or Tuesday, and worked there day or
two, proving to be good compositor bat
it was noticed that he asked foolish ques-
tions-not connected with his work-and
was regarded as being little off" men
tally. To one gentleman he confided, in
the course of conversation, that he was
engaged to be married to lady in San
Francisco but had squandered all his
money and could not fulfill the engage
ment. Wednesday or Thursday morning
he stated that he mad urgent BUSINESS in
San Francisco, and quit work.